REPORT/PHOTOS: Kerry Falter Against Carlow In Joe McDonagh Cup Match

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Mike O’Halloran was at the Joe McDonagh Cup game in Carlow where Kerry were defeated on Sunday…

Carlow 0-21

Kerry 0-18

Jack Kavanagh under pressure from Kerry. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

THE final score in the Joe McDonagh Cup game between Kerry and Carlow played in Carlow reads Carlow 0-21 Kerry 0-18 a three point loss for Kerry.

It is true to say that there was only a puck of a ball between them, but factor in that Carlow created five goal chances, three of those goal were cast-iron chances all in the first half.

Kerry opened the scoring after 26 seconds when Colum Harty drove over a point, he had replaced Shane Nolan from the start.

Paul Cody and Denis Murphy added two for Carlow before Jack Goulding levelled for Kerry.

Continued below…

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The sides were level six times before half time, Kerry had points from Colum Harty one, Jack Goulding three, Shane Conway three frees, and Padraig Boyle with two from play.

Carlow had six different scorers who scored six points from play along with four frees.  Carlow had five goal scoring chances, they also had seven wide balls to Kerry’s four.

Action from the game. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Carlow went in at halftime one point up ten points to nine. Jack Doyle put Carlow two ahead on the restart Jack Goulding reduced the margin to one with a wonderful trademark sideline cut.

Eddie Byrne and Kevin Byrne brought Carlow’s total to 13, Kerry had the next three points from the sticks of Padraig Boyle two and Shane Conway one to level the game for the seventh time 13 points each, 13 minutes into the second half.

Twenty-nine minutes into the final half, Kerry went into a two-point lead 18 points to 16 when Padraig Boyle pointed a 65.

That was to be Kerry’s last score of the game as Carlow tacked on five points in a row. Kerry certainly did not fire on all cylinders today and many players will be disappointed with their contribution on a very hot energy sapping day, which make me wonder why only one replacement was used with Daniel O’Caroll being introduced with four minutes remaining on the clock.

Shane Conway on action. Photo by Mike O’Halloran

Kerry were reduced to 14 at the end but it had no bearing on the result. It was always going to be difficult to come away with a win away to Carlow, but with a few less errors especially from pucks out maybe Kerry could have come away with a win.

Kerry Team and Scorers:
1. Martin Stackpoole 2. Sean Weir 3. John Buckley 4. Bryan Murphy 5. Brandon Barrett 6. Daniel Collins 7. Tom Murnane 21. Colum Harty (1pt) (Daniel O’Carroll) 9. Brendan O’Leary 10. Dáithí Griffin 11. Michael Boyle 23. Barry O’Mahony 13. Jack Goulding (4pts) 14. Padraig Boyle (Captain) (7 pts (65 1 free) 15. Shane Conway (6 pts frees)